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Arak Air Quality Poor

Air quality index in Arak, capital of Markazi Province, exceeded 100 for the third day in a row on Sunday, meaning air pollution reached unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.

But what's been stealing headlines is not the air quality itself; it's the 24-hour delay in announcing it by environment officials, YJC reported.

Arak's air quality recorded an index of 110 on Sunday morning, more than twice the acceptable threshold of 50, based on World Health Organization standards, but the provincial Department of Environment announced it on Monday. This has been going on since Friday.

In other words, residents of the industrial city have been going about their daily lives with no knowledge of the level of air quality in the metropolis.

The index shows air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, which comprise the elderly, pregnant women, children and those suffering from heart diseases and respiratory disorders, and they must limit outdoor exposure. Arak has reportedly earmarked 120 billion rials ($3.1 million) to combat air pollution in the metropolis.

The “Car-Free Tuesday” campaign, which aims to encourage people to ditch their private vehicles every Tuesday in favor of public transportation, originated in Arak, where air quality has worsened.